Mallorca

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At a Glance

A passion project of Sir Richard Branson 20-plus years in the making, Son Bunyola opened its doors in June 2023, becoming the eighth hotel in the Virgin Limited Collection. The 1300-acre estate sits on an unrivaled piece of land with three miles of Mediterranean coastline and comprises two historic buildings with several annexes totaling 26 rooms and suites, plus three villas.

Indagare Loves

• The hiking and biking trails in the Tramuntana mountains accessible from the property
• The location, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean, countryside and Mallorca’s famous Sa Foradada
• The 28-meter swimming pool
• The peaceful olive grove with cabanas and sun loungers

Son Bunyola Hotel Review

After a scenic 40-minute drive from Palma Airport, guests find themselves at the entrance to the grounds of Son Bunyola and begin their slow descent to the hotel. The views from the zigzagging road are worth pulling over for, and it’s little surprise why. This sprawling seaside estate sits on an UNESCO World Heritage Site in the prestigious and protected Tramuntana region of Mallorca, and its grounds abound with vines, citrus fruit trees and almond and olive groves. At the heart of the property, a 16th-century finca farmhouse has been meticulously restored and brought back to life with the vision of Sir Richard Branson.

Richard Branson’s love affair with Mallorca began when he was a child vacationing on the island with his mother and father. (He’d had his eyes on the land where Son Bunyola now sits for years, but first built the famed family hotel La Residencia—now a Belmond—in the charming, artistic village of Deia).

Local interior design firm Rialto Living brought traditional Mallorcan charm and modernity to the hotel’s 26 rooms, while preserving the building’s historic features—from its arches and staircases to the wood and floor tiles. The Eve Branson Foundation designed an array of textiles exclusive to Son Bunyola—rugs, embroidered napkins, cotton hairdryer bags and so on—which were handwoven by artisans in the High Atlas Mountains (close to Virgin Limited Edition’s Kasbah Tamadot). Pops of pink, blue and green give the hotel a warm and inviting feel.

The rooms and suites are split between several buildings. The tafona, the historic olive oil press, houses two of the property’s showcase suites with terraces, and the finca has two unique Tower Suites with beautiful sea and mountain views. (One of these was a medieval defense tower in the 13th century.) While Son Bunyola itself is perfectly suited for takeovers, the estate’s three villas—each with their own pool—are good options for families or groups seeking privacy. Sa Punta de S’Aguila is the largest of the villas with five bedrooms. Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret both have four bedrooms. Each villa can be booked exclusively year-round and offers access to the hotel’s amenities.

There are two restaurants on-property: Sa Terrassa, named for its location in front of the finca’s picture-perfect façade, and Sa Tafona, housed in the historic olive press. Samuel G. Galdon, a Michelin-star-trained executive chef employs a “farm-to-fork” approach at both restaurants. Sa Terrassa serves contemporary farm-to-table food during the day and fine-dining at night with an optional seven-course tasting menu. Sa Tafona is the more casual tapas option.

Most guests will want to build time into their itinerary to spend at the impressive 28-meter swimming pool and hot tub. The property also has a tennis court that converts to a pickleball court, spa treatment rooms and bikes on hand—there are endless hiking and biking trails. Outdoor yoga classes, as well as activities like cooking classes and village tours are also on offer. A beautiful—though rugged—public beach is a 20-minute walk downhill from the hotel or accessible by golf cart. The beach is rocky, untouched coastline with no infrastructure—special shoes are available on request should guests wish to venture to the sea.

Like other Virgin Limited properties, Son Bunyola is committed to sustainability, and the Virgin team is working to revitalize the agricultural side of the estate that was once vineyards and farmland. Initiatives so far have included planting over 200 trees, reducing plastic, locally sourcing restaurant ingredients to eliminate food waste and purifying and reusing 100 percent of the wastewater produced by the hotel to irrigate the gardens. The property is also connected to a local power grid, thus avoiding the need for generators. Beginning in 2026, the Virgin team hopes to begin producing the estate’s own Malvasia wine from the six acres of vines that have been planted.

Note: The vegetation surrounding Son Bunyola Hotel will take a few years to grow in and flourish.

Who Should Stay

Couples and families seeking relaxation or to customize their activity level—due to its size and villa options, it can also work for groups of friends or multi-generational families

Author

• Kathryn Nathanson